Local

A group of firefighters tackled a blaze at a Culp Landsford Road home at about 1:27 p.m. Thursday, May 16, though the damage was extensive.
Deputies responded to the 1300 block of Culp Landsford Road about a structure fire, according to a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office incident report. A 29-year-old man told deputies he started a fire to burn a stump in his back yard. He stated the fire then spread quickly to a small storage building a short distance from the stump and then burned a large portion of the back of his home, the report said.

CHEVY CHASE, MD – Today, May 19, is the final day of the spring 4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply.
Now in its third year, the national in-store fundraiser benefits state and local 4-H programs across the United States including Lancaster County.
Tractor Supply Company shoppers in nearly 1,000 communities can buy paper clovers for a $1, $5, or more donation at checkout. All funds raised will be donated to 4-H, and support 4-H youth development program activities in their communities.

Baccalaureate services are among the oldest educational traditions dating back nearly 580 years to the United Kingdom’s University of Oxford, a service to celebrate young lives dedicated to learning and wisdom.
While the modern tradition does away with the Medieval practice of calling on graduating “bachelors” to deliver sermons in Latin, the tradition is still significant as a solemn farewell to students’ school years and an encouraging send off into their lives beyond.

Reserve money will be used to ensure the city of Lancaster’s 911 system is meeting state standards.
At its Tuesday, May 14, meeting, City Council voted unanimously to use up to $12,000 to buy a new digital recorder for the 911 emergency telephone lines at the Municipal Justice Center.
Lancaster Police Chief Harlean Howard said the current digital recorder no longer operates to its fullest capacity.

Reserve money will be used to ensure the city of Lancaster’s 911 system is meeting state standards.
At its Tuesday, May 14, meeting, City Council voted unanimously to use up to $12,000 to buy a new digital recorder for the 911 emergency telephone lines at the Municipal Justice Center.
Lancaster Police Chief Harlean Howard said the current digital recorder no longer operates to its fullest capacity.

Regional workforce and local economic development agencies in Lancaster, Chester and York counties have joined forces to host a regional job fair Thursday, May 23.
The Catawba Regional Job Fair is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Conference Center at the Gateway, 3200 Commerce Drive, Suite C (the former Nourse Auto Mall), in Richburg.
Organizers have pulled together more than 20 companies offering more than 500 jobs between them, ranging from administrative positions to manufacturing.

– Editor’s note: In the next four issues, The Lancaster News will profile students who have overcome the odds to earn a high school diploma in 2013.

Only fragments of memories remain for Austin Williams of the day that changed his life forever.
It was about 12 years ago as Williams, now a graduating senior at Buford High School, was riding his bike on Flat Creek Road (S.C. 903) near his great-grandparent’s house.
Just 6 years old, the kindergartner was unaware of the danger that was approaching.

Worried for the safety of the county’s animal control officers, who often face dangerous animals with no protection other than a catchpole, Lancaster County Council has decided it’s time to arm several of its employees.
Council unanimously voted at its Monday, May 13, meeting to approve having all animal control officers trained by the end of the month to carry long guns and to also be appropriately armed.

A Gilbert man was crushed and killed by a tractor just south of the Elgin community in Pleasant Hill on Friday afternoon, May 17.
James Paul Staehr, 72, died in the accident in the 3600 block of Kershaw Camden Highway at about 2 p.m., said Lancaster County Coroner Mike Morris. The accident scene is near the Pleasant Hill area.
Morris did not release Staehr’s name until Saturday when his family had been notified.
The accident happened minutes after Staehr had finished plowing a field located off the road and in a pasture.

Worried for the safety of the county’s animal control officers, who often face dangerous animals with no protection other than a catchpole, Lancaster County Council has decided it’s time to arm several of its employees.
Council unanimously voted at its Monday, May 13, meeting to approve having all animal control officers trained by the end of the month to carry long guns and to also be appropriately armed.